Advertising scale



2 Shoots-Shoot 1 Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

PHILIP VIVIANO, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ADVERTISING SCALE Application filed Kay 9, 1925. Serial No. 29,115.

' To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, PHILIP VIvIANo, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful] Improvements ,in an Advertising Scale, of which the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to an improved weighing scale together with the novel advertising means which is associated therewith.

. Briefly, the invention has reference to a weighing scale which embodies a housing provided in its front with a window. through which advertisements upon an endless band are displayed successively in a step-by-step manner, each time the platform of the scaleis occupied by a person.

- One feature of the invention is the novel pawl and ratchet means employed for imparting the step-by-step movement to the advertising band, there being novel means employed for transmitting motion from the tiltable platform to the pawl and ratchet means so that an exceedingly slight movement of the platform will serve to impart the necessary degreeof rotation to the band to bring up a new sign each time the platform'is depressed.

1 Another feature of theinvention is the rotatablymounted calibrated discs serving to display the various weights, together with characteristic means operated from conventional mechanismin the hollow tiltable platform. a

Other features and advantages of the inmention will become apparent from the following description and drawings. I I

.In the accompanying drawings forming a partof this application and in which like numerals are employed tov designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a weighing scale constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure '2 is a top plan view of the same.

a Figure 3Iis a side view showing the housing in section and portions therein in elevation. I .Figure 4 is a sectional, and elevational view showing the. power multiplying means I and scale operating means more clearly. j

1Figure 5- is an enlarged detail view of one .endportion; of the gdvfil'l ising band drum.

-The spring is anchored to to right after each operation.

by. this .That portion ofthe bracketcen the la t Famed end is pass d Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the advertising band. 7

Referring to the drawings in dtail, the reference character 1 designates a base from which a standard 2 rises. The standard is rigidly connected with an upstanding vertically elongated housing 3. The housing is substantially rectangular in configuration, being relatively narrow at the top and widened somewhat at the bottom. Formed in the narrowed top is a glass-window 4. Formed in the portion providing the juncture between the upper and lower portions is a sight opening 5 through which the different weight numbers may be clearly viewed. Mounted for rotation at the top of the'housing is a plane surfaced drum 6. Mounted'for rotation at the bottom is a complemental drum 7 the last named drum being provided adjacent one end with a circumferential row of projections 8. A flexible fabric'band or its equivalent 9 of endless form is trained over these drums. As

shown in Figure 7 one edge of the band is provided with a multiplicity of perforations .10, and the projections 8 on the lower drum 7 extend through these perforations. In this way, rotation of the drum 7 serves to impart movement to the band. Obviously the band is divided into a plurality of display areas 11, each one of which carries a different ad-,

vertisement. The area is preferably of a size corresponding with the window 4 and is adapted to be brought opposite this window to permit it to be plainly seen when the scale is operated; Directing attention to Figure 5, it-will benoted that a ratchet 12 is mounted for Iidling movement upon the journal at this end of the drum. I he ratchet embodies a flanged hub 13 to which one end of a coiled spring 14 is connected. the housing at its opposite end, and obviously serves to rotate theratchet andhub in a direction from left and to maintain and automatically return the ratchet toits normal position A bracket 15 is mounted in the housing, and a relatively short belt 16 ispassed over a pulley carried bracket, the being anchored upon the hub 13, and the opposite end being connected to the .front wall of the enlarged lower wall of the housing. belt between the pulley free end of the beltover a freely rotatable pulley 17 on the free end portion of a rockably mounted lever 18 confined in the housing. From Figure 4 it will be noted that this lever 18 is pivoted at a point between its center and one end. Also, a link 19 is connected to the short end, and depends through an opening in the bot tom of the housing and is connected to a bracket 20 in the hollow platform 21. The platform is provided with spaced ears 22 which straddle and are pivotally connected to the aforesaid standard 2. A spring 23 is interposed between the platform and the standard to maintain the platform normally in a substantially horizontal plane with its upper side in contact with the bottom of the housing 3 as shown plainly in Figure 3.

That portion of the platform 21 project ing beyond the bottom of the housing and overlying the base 1 is formed in its top with an opening through which a depressible circular plate 24 is movable. It is upon the plate 24 that the occupant of the scale is adapted to stand. In this connection, it is to be pointed out that the platform is such as to accommodate conventional mechanism for exerting a downward pull on the vertically extending rod 25 when the plate is depressed. The rod 25 extends through an opening in the bottom of the housing 3 upwardly and into the housing. On the upper end thereof is toothed rack bar 26, the teeth of which mesh with a pinion 27 keyed upon the front face of a rotary scale disc 28. The disc 28 occupies a considerable portion of the lower part of the housing and the periphery thereof is graduated in the customary way to indicate the various degrees of weight from zero on. The periphery is positioned directly beneath the aforesaid sight opening 5, so that the occupant may look down through the sight opening to observe the particular weight given. Attention is directed to Figure 4, wherein it will be seen that an arm 29 is pivoted between its ends and is provided at one end with a threaded portion carrying an adjusting weight 30. The opposite end of the arm is connected through the medium of the link 31to the intermediate portion of the aforesaid rod 25. The central hub of the arm 29 carries an angularly disposed extension 32 upon which a relatively larger weight 33 is mounted. It is clear that the weighted arm 29 constitutes an adjusting means by which the mechanisms may be equalized to dispose the zero mark on the scale in the true starting position.

Considering first the operation of the advertising means, it will be seen that each time the platform 21 is occupied, it will swing downwardly upon its pivot and against the action of the coil spring 23. In so doin it will exert a downward pull on the shoft end of the lever 18 through the medium of the link 19. This will lift up upon the pulley 17 at the free end of the lever, and

the pulley will exert a pressure upon the short belt 16. This belt when under stress serves to impart rotation to the ratchet 12 through the medium of the hub 13 which is connected thereto. In this connection it should be observed from Figure 3 that the aforesaid drum 7 carries a spring pressed pawl 34 which is engageable with the teeth of the ratchet. Obviously then, as the ratchet is rotated in a direction from right to left, it will impart rotation to the drum 7, and the drum in turn will turn the advertising band 9 through a predetermined distance to bring one of the display areas 11 opposite the window 4. After the occupant steps off of the platform, it will resume its normal horizontal position under the action of the spring 23, and the ratchet 12 will be returned automatically to its normal position through the medium of the spring 14, it being remembered that the ratchet is mounted for idling upon the journal of the drum. In this way the advertising band will be moved around in a step-by-step manner, and as each person steps on the platfprm, a new sign will be brought up for disp ay.

Considering the operation of the scale itself it is clear that as the plate 24 is depressed, it exerts a downward pull upon the rod 25, which through the medium of the rack and pinion imparts rotation to the scale disc 28. As before stat-ed, conventional mechanism is located in the hollow platform 21 for cooperation with the rod 25 to bring about the proper proportion of movement to turn the scale disc the desired degree.

The weighing scale mechanism herein specifically described and shown, being a divisional subject matter, is not herein claimed, but is embodied and claimed in a separate divisional application filed by me on August 27, 1925, and bearing Serial No. 52,806. Accordingly, the novelty herein alleged is restricted to what may be conveniently designated as the advertising mechanism.

Undoubtedly, by considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the same. lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

lVhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a structure of the class described, a vertically elongated housing providedin its lot) Therefore, a more 7 carried by one 1. opposite end of said element being anchored one end upon said upon a relatively stationary part, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends upon said housing, a pulley carried. by the free end of the lever and cooperable with said flexible element, a tiltable platform, and a connection between the platform and the opposite end of said lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PHILIP VIVIANO. 

